If you love very old vampires, spunky vampire hunters, a sarcastic fallen angel, a former hell's bounty hunter, a berserker werewolf, Lucifer, a goddess and want danger, mystery, with a very steamy yet sweet romance added into the mix then you will love BURNING ASH.

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

Complete review may be found at:https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=71716

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Expected release date September 21, 2020.***

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Another wonderful paranormal fantasy / romance about the Forgotten Brotherhood by N.J. Walters that allowed me to mentally escape our current reality, if only for a short time (I REALLY need to go back and read the first book 😊). Can't wait for the next book!

This is the first book that I’ve read by N.J. Walters. Yes, you read that correctly. I picked up a book from a new to me author that is the third book in a new series. Stick around long enough and you’ll discover that this is a not so rare trend with me. *sigh* The good news is that you can definitely read Burning Ash as a stand alone and not be totally lost, but if you’re like me, you will finish it wanting to know how the series started – which I plan to do – especially before I pick up the next book. Just in case anyone’s curious, the series begins with Fury Unleashed (Maccus & Morrigan – who play a role in Burning Ash) and continues with Arctic Bite (Alexei & Cassie – who are just mentioned in Burning Ash). Now that we’ve gotten my much too frequently repeated confession out of the way…

Asher and Jo were amazing together. The fact that Asher was a vampire and Jo was a vampire hunter with a personal vendetta against ALL vampires was bound to cause issues, but their attraction was hard to ignore. Besides, Asher wasn’t an average vampire and Jo wasn’t an average hunter. There was also the issue of someone trying to destroy them both – working together made more sense than working apart. Asher didn’t have as much trouble working with Jo, he was actually determined to protect her from anyone and anything. The attraction for him was pure instinct at first, but it turned in to much more the longer they were together.

There was much more to this story than the budding romance between vampire and hunter. Teaming with the allusive Maccus and his mate, Morrigan, added another layer to the story. There was also mystery, action and a lot of action to keep the pages turning. Much more than I expected. One mystery was solved by the end of Burning Ash, but not another one that affects all the Forgotten Brotherhood and their mates. I’m not sure what comes next, but I’m sure that it’s not over. That’s okay though, I obviously have some catching up… or backtracking to do. 😉

Wow, I devoured this book!!!! It may seem you are getting another story of a vampire and vampire hunter in love, but this is SO MUCH MORE! Asher’s background is nearly legendary, he is legendary, and what he feels for Jo reaches well beyond all that. Jo thinks she knows how the world works, but she quickly learns so knows so little, but her past has prepared her for this future. A deep connection, heat off the charts, lots of fun and wit, and a new *cough* friend you just know is in for some upcoming adventure. Love the pace, loved the story, loved the characters, loved it all!

How can they work together when they are at each end of the ladder...

Oh my!
« Sigh! »
I just fell in love again, Asher is just ... Asher!
He is just perfect.
I haven’t read Maccus’ tale but it is easy to follow this one too.
But I am even more curious about him.

Asher and Jo are two sides of a coin, the hunter and the prey, the decoy and the target ...
Asher despite his long lived life and his loneliness is no bitter man, I loved how he often tries to liven and lift the mood/atmosphere by some jokes or witty repartees.
He is the bogeyman for all vampires when their council can solve a case, he is the one called to put an end to it. For milleniums, he hunted the vampires turned rogue, until he joined the brotherhood, to hunt the monsters at the top of the foodchain, a monster needs a monster to be put down.
Yet it is a lonely existence, but he accepted the weight of his mission as he was made to be thus.
Until he meets the one woman who awakens a feeling he thought buried with his human self.

Jo has been made a vampire hunter by a trauma from her past, since she never stopped to hunt them but also never once questioned her way. With Asher, she will have to reflect on herself, think about what she truly wants and where she wish to go. Retrospectively, she lives one day at a time, with no other prospect than her next mission. She is a survivor who lost her way and lives on the edges only driven by the revenge’s need.

Outside the mystery behind the emails and who’s behind them, it was fun to see them interact with the couple from the first book, from the icy Maccus to his cheerful significant half, and I am quite curious about the Viking Werewolf.

On a special note, all the covers of this series are awesome but it is a pity it does not match the hero’s description, he has long blond hair and is “pretty”!

A 5 stars for this fun and action packed tale with a swoon worthy hero.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Entangled, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

WOW! Burning Ash is a really good paranormal romance. I was hooked from the first. NJ Walters never fails to delight the senses.

“For ten thousand years, the world had changed but he had remained the same. Until Jo.”
An unknown email, a tent revival, and a mystical connection draws Jo and Asher together. But will the knowledge that one is a hunter and the other the prey keep them from finding the out the secret? Will Jo become bait in a game as old as Asher? Will the unlikely couple survive the danger that surrounds them?

Well this was exciting, fun and sexy smashed together in too little of pages. This is a stand-alone in a series, which I enjoy, so you don’t constantly have the feeling your missing out on some vital tidbit of information. Totally loved their chemistry, Jo is a bad ass with a gooey center. I enjoyed all the twist and turns to this story, this does not end on a cliff, but it’s definitely not over. Great read and I will definitely be looking out for the next book.

Burning Ash is Book 3 in N.J Walter's Forgotten Brotherhood series. This book was a funny, with quite solid world building and likeable MCs. I've been reading this series from Book 1 and I have to say that Burning Ash has more humour compared to the previous books. I think this is mainly due to the de facto leader of this Forgotten Brotherhood Macchus (Book 1) who made cameos with his better half Morrigan. Their interactions are just too funny and it provided the comedic slant. Although I really enjoyed this book, I don't really like the cover. Hopefully the next book cover will be an improvement.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy, the views above are all my own.

Fascinating!

Asher and Jo take us on an engaging and humorous journey full of twists, turns, drama, suspense and action. I couldn’t put it down.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Loved reading the enthralling and spellbinding paranormal romance story. When Asher, an immortal vampire, a member of the brotherhood, gets a mysterious email to slay a vampire, he meets a human woman who is a beautiful vampire slayer, Jo, who has also received a mysterious email. Someone is trying to kill Jo, the woman he vows to protect, and attacking the brotherhood. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, full of action, suspense, and a lobe story with a riveting storyline, and another must read story in the Forgotten Brotherhood.
I reviewed a copy of the story through NetGalley.

Burning Ash is a phenomenally breathtaking masterpiece in this wildly provocative and uncontestedly spellbinding series. Just when I can't imagine that things could even more intriguing or intense, everything shifts and what I find truly leaves me speechless and completely delighted. What a brilliant and unparalleled series! I can only dream of what literary work of art will greet us next and steal the breath from our lungs while it continues to show us the things that matter most in life.

Asher has walked this world for more years then he cares to count. He has seen so much, and yet he still finds surprises along the way. One such surprise is a woman named Jo. She is his complete opposite in every way, and yet she pulls him to her at every turn. When dangers closes in, Asher must decide how best to fight back while keeping Jo close and safe. While he never say her coming, she gracefully walked into his world and mesmerized him by just breathing. Will the barriers between them prove to be as unbreakable as steel, or will their hearts find a way through the complex maze of differences to help fight the insidious evil that wants to destroy them?

I was totally taken by surprise with Asher and Jo. She is most definitely his match in every way, and I was stuck by how much he longs for more in his life. Asher is such a mysterious character up this point, so this is truly an eye-opening experience for me. I lived every second of this beautiful and life-changing journey. It left me in awe and longing to know so much about the brotherhood.

N.J. Walters is a fascinating author who never fails to rattle my calm with her bone-chilling thrillers while she melts my kindle with her fiery passion. These books are such a huge treasure that keep me so satisfied while leaving me with enough longing to keep coming back for more. I highly recommend this fabulous series. It is truly everything and so much more!

I just want to preface this review with how I love that N.J. Walters’s plots and characters never get boring!

This is part of a paranormal series! I love how Burning Ash tied back to the first book and gave you a peak of possible future characters. I love the strong play of the feminine characters and does a great focus of empowering women without demeaning the men and their inherent strength as well.

Asher is a hunter of sorts and he meets Vampire Hunter Jo. She’s strong, sexy and confident in her skills, however, she just can’t shake this guy! Little does she know he’s also a Vampire. If you think that puts Asher off in the littlest bit, your wrong, in fact it does just the opposite peaking his interest.

I felt like overall Jo and Asher were well balanced and complimented on another. I would rate this a five out of five! This is a great book for you to slip into! This ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I read the book. There are some areas of the book. I liked. Such as having a strong female warrior like Jo. Her character didn’t take crap from anyone.
She was written as character who wasn’t afraid of anything. She appeared smart and intelligent. Ashers character is ok too. He has the smarts and charm. Somethings from the book I found believing as it relates to the book, but I couldn’t relate to the dialogue/conversations.
This prohibited me from relating to the characters or the book. The conversations that took place was like a conversation between young adults. <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/21abbc6d2f62a80d56d9e8ae6c15dff82ebee8dc" width="80" height="80" alt="25 Book Reviews" title="25 Book Reviews"/>

4.5 stars - Burning Ash is another great paranormal romance from N.J. Winter! I love that Asher finally found his mate after 10,000 years of fighting to bring justice. It was also nice to see some characters from previous books. I hope there are more stories in this series to come.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a fantastic read! Miss Walters is becoming a fan favorite of mine. The Forgotten Brotherhood series is absolutely phenomenal! In this book, we have Ash or Asher, a very old, very, very old vampire who also happens to be a slayer. He meets his match with the Jo, Jo is a knife-throwing, sword-wielding, badass fighting vampire hunter. She hunts down the bad vamps and kills them.
Ash and Jo, meet at an undisclosed location from an anonymous email, from that point on the action and suspense start. Filled with non-stop adventure, hot lovemaking, humor, past characters, and a new character, Bjorn, with moments of emotional connection, leads to a wonderful story. I totally fell in love with Asher and I think he is the best paranormal, the strongest paranormal being, that I've read about in a long, long, time. Everyone should read this book! It's awesome! I completely enjoyed every moment of this book! 5 WONDERFUL STUPENDOUS ASTONISHING BEAUTIFUL stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

P.S. I really hope Bjorn's book is next. ❤❤❤

****I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley*****

I haven't been this excited to talk about a paranormal romance in a long time!

Burning Ash is my introduction to author NJ Walters and to the Forgotten Brotherhood series and while I could tell that I had missed two intense and interesting stories, I was able to get the gist of what had gone down (I'm still going to put the first two books high up on my TBR list though because I need deets!).

Asher and Jo's story is part of a larger plot that encompasses the series but no worries, there are no cliffhangers in the book, just an excitement for the next book. At least for me there was excitement.

Where to begin with what I loved about this book? How about with Asher himself? When it comes to popular vampires in romance the majority of them are brooding, mysterious, and a bit glum. Asher is totally different. He's ancient, like, old-as-dirt ancient but you wouldn't know it because this vamp is fun, flirty, and has a sense of humor. He might have a few moments here and there of deep internal thoughts but this is a vamp that can still find things to smile about. Like a certain tacky reality show. Honestly Asher was a great character to introduce me to Walters' work and he'll be difficult to beat.

Jo's no slouch either. I can't get enough of fully capable, butt kicking heroines like her. She's tough on the outside, a true survivor, but on the inside she's as vulnerable as they come. Jo's smart as a whip, snarky, and it takes a lot more than a vampire to frighten her. Some of my favorite scenes in Burning Ash were just Jo kicking butt. She's definitely no shrinking violent and while she's only human, she can stand and fight with Asher and his supernatural buddies.

But who am I kidding, it was the romance between Asher and Jo that really sold me on this book and this new-to-me author. An ancient vampire who falls in love with a shoot-first-don't-bother-asking hunter? And it's more than just the opposites attract theme, it's the way the author handled their first meeting and the development of feelings between them. Asher's charmingly sarcastic first words to Jo almost get him shot and stabbed and from that moment the banter and connection between them was just as addictive for me as a reader as it was for them as characters.

As a member of the Forgotten Brotherhood, Asher is hanging with a very reclusive, exclusive crowd. They're the deadliest creatures around. The ones that garden variety vampires, weres, and demons fear because they're the boogeymen who will come for them if they've stepped out of line. Meeting two other members of the Brotherhood put Asher's personality in stark contrast. Maccus and Bjorn are exactly how I expected them to be at first. They're intense, moody, and mostly monosyllabic. In other words, I'm curious about them.

The writing in Burning Ash flows easily and takes time to take the reader through the journey but makes sure that every step of that journey is interesting, engaging, and has a purpose. I had such a good time that I finished this book in two days. It's definitely one of the best books I've read this year and I can't wait to check out previous books in the series and to see what's next for this series.


*Review to be posted on I Smell Sheep as part of a blog tour

This is the second book I have read in the Forgotten Brotherhood series.
In this book we get to spend time with Asher and Jo. A vampire and a vampire hunter. As well as some old friends from the first book, Fury Unleashed.
The story starts with a mystery: who sent Asher and Jo after the same vampire at the same time? From there things get more and more interesting.
Asher is thousands of years old. He's one of the elite assassins that make up the Forgotten Brotherhood. He's deadly but also completely swoon-worthy. With a secret guilty pleasure for watching reality TV.
Jo became a vampire hunter after her parents were killed by one. She doesn't really have time for relaxing, watching TV or having even semi-regular relationships. She's too busy trying to stay alive.
Someone out there is stirring up trouble that's going to affect both of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book: I read it in one go because I didn't want to put it down. NJ Walter has crafted an engaging novel with characters you care about and a story you don't want to end.
Now I just need to go read Alexei's book - the second in the series.

Three books into the Forgotten Brotherhood series and N.J. Walters has once again proven why she is my new go-to author for paranormal romance! Her stories are full of danger, intrigue, suspense, supernatural creatures, and so much heart.

➤ If he'd planned to hurt her, he'd had ample opportunity. And motive. She had tried to kill him. Twice. That hadn't even fazed him.

Plot: 5/5 - someone is out to hurt the members of the Brotherhood. One by one they've been set up and luckily enough came out somewhat unscathed, finding their soulmates in the process. When Asher receives an email to his personal inbox, a message he can't trace despite his immense talent at hacking, he has to check it out. All roads lead to Jo, who also got an untraceable email and the two band together to solve this mystery. Why were they drawn to each other? Who was working behind the scenes to target each of the assassins? With a malevolent presence haunting their every step, the hunt for answers was at times creepy, violent, vicious and entertaining. Asher and Jo should be enemies, but something sparks between them and not even the certainty of death can quash it.

Hero: 5/5 - Asher, a powerful vampire and member of the Brotherhood of supernatural assassins, has walked the Earth for ten thousand years and has carried out his duty, with the blessing of a goddess, with both humility and strength. His name strikes fear in even the fiercest of vamps and most believe him to be a legend, a boogeyman to put them in their place.

➤ "No matter how strong or badass you think you are, there is always someone else bigger or badder."

Asher was everything great about this book. I loved learning more about this vamp I only heard mention of before. His history was heartbreaking and the humanity he grasped onto endeared him to me more. He was such a stunning male who was lethal, loyal, dedicated, protective, and extremely passionate. The many glimpses of his heart made him even more beautiful and he was definitely book boyfriend material.

Heroine: 3.5/5 - Jo was a survivor and she turned a horrific experience into a lifestyle. A vampire slayer, she was lured to Asher and despite knowing that she should hate him and everything he stands for, she can't help feeling like he's exactly who she didn't even know she was looking for. I didn't love this character, which bothered me because I've loved the heroines from the first two books, but I did like her well enough. I just couldn't really connect with her. Despite knowing what happened to turn her into a hunter, I didn't know how she found the skills and proficiency to do what she did. She was badass and I couldn't help but admire her for her courage and loyalty to Asher. She had his back and even when she was absolutely terrified, she didn't back down. How can you not respect that?

➤ Jo was no shrinking violet. The hardships of her past had shaped her, honed her, turned her into a deadly fighting machine, a woman with a mission.

As a duo, these two were virtually unstoppable. The fact that Jo was human didn't stop them from taking on all comers and it was so exciting to read! Jo with her knives, sword and crossbow were a sight to imagine. Asher with his... everything... yeah, they could do no wrong in my eyes. Seeing Maccus and Morrigan? BONUS!! We even meet another sexy and deadly Viking assassin, the father of werewolves, Bjorn. His backstory broke my heart into pieces. Will his book be next?

Asher is sent an anonymous email that brings him into contact with Jo as she has received the same email. Jo is a real badass vampire Hunter who has come to take out Vlad but Asher is there out of curiosity as he knows he killed Vlad many years before. Jo & Asher spark each other from the start with witty dialogue together with an underlying attraction.
This is the third Forgotten Brotherhood book & could be read as a stand-alone but I think is better when read in sequence as you’ll understand the references better. You’ll also have met
Maccus & Morrigan who were in the first book & it’s so good to see them again!
This book has some really laugh out loud moments & it’s great to have a strong female lead who doesn’t rely on the man to take the lead.
Really enjoyable read & I can’t wait for book 4!